WWE COO, Triple H, is out to warm up the crowd. They quickly catch fire as Triple H is immediately interrupted by the Universal Champion, Seth Rollins.
Des Moines, Iowa, home of “The Beast Slayer”, welcome home their favorite son as he is quickly led to understand that the Raw landscape has in fact changed on 4/22/19 at the Wells Fargo Arena.
All six men involved in two triple threat matches slated for tonight are out to speak their piece about having the opportunity to compete for the Universal Title at Money In The Bank.
The first match will start the show and it’s new Raw arrival, US Champion Samoa Joe, who was sick last week, but here tonight, against Rey Mysterio and AJ Styles.
The second match will see The Miz against Raw staples, Baron Corbin, and Drew McIntyre. The winners of those two matches will face each other in the main event, the victor heading on to face Rollins live on pay per view.
As the ring clears, the first match is underway.
AJ Styles defeats Samoa Joe and Rey Mysterio via pin fall after a Styles Clash on Mysterio leads to pinning Joe.
They gave this match over twenty minutes and as fellow Scrum writer and lead, David, stated, did we peak early? This match-up was absolutely incredible.
There were a multitude of back and forth exchanges, these three men having held their own on Smackdown in quality matches, do so tonight.
Mysterio had this one at hand as he nailed a 619 on Joe while Styles was on the opposite side ropes. He took to the top rope for a splash after some hesitation, and Styles got caught with two vicious powerbombs.
Styles immediately used Mysterio as a weapon, hitting a Styles Clash on him across Joe’s body and he pinned the US champion to advance to the main event later. This was truly a spectacular opening bout.
It’s about to get amazing as we bring it to the floor with Raw arrival, Naomi, who’s prepared to bring the glow to singles action against Billy Kay, one half of the Women’s tag team champions, after the break.
The Iiconics are out together and they bomb an Ariana Grande joke. The crowd either didn’t know who that was, or didn’t care. They mock Naomi for a smattering of time as they state that Naomi doesn’t have a partner after Bayley was drafted to Smackdown.
Naomi defeats Billie Kay via pin fall after a rollup.
This was over quicker than a hiccup. Kay got in the ring and within seconds, she pinned one half of the tag team champions. Not the best call in my opinion to continue to bury the champs, but it’s fifty/fifty booking at its best.
We get a promo for the returning Bray Wyatt once again after the short match.
Michael Cole actually makes reference to the mass confusion surrounding the Superstar Shake-up and he mentions going to wwe.com to clarify things. Andrade, Aleister Black and Zelina Vega are apparently back on Smackdown without fanfare and per a fox request, while Ricochet and allegedly, Cesaro, will be on Raw going forward.
The “Viking Experience” will thankfully be the “Viking Raiders” going forward. The former was an atrocious name.
Wow, after a ventilating opening match, we’re getting back to it as we have our second triple threat match after the break.
Baron Corbin defeats Drew McInyre and The Miz via pin fall after stealing a cover on the Miz.
Not as good as the first match of the evening, but anytime you get Drew McIntyre working, you’ve got a match.
The Miz has really reinvented himself in the ring. I haven’t been able to enjoy every Smackdown, but he’s working a more physical style and he worked strong here as well.
Miz played the face in peril for a good portion of the match until Corbin turned on McIntyre and eventually earned his wrath. “The Scottish Psychopath” struck with a Glasgow Kiss headbutt and Corbin ultimately came back with a powerbomb spot before a mid-match break.
After they returned, Corbin was still in charge, but the tables were turned when The Miz came back, attacking both men with a high risk maneuver on the outside while AJ Styles looked on backstage.
Miz ate a reverse Alabama slam from McIntyre before applying a figure four leglock. A thumb to the eye quickly ended that and Corbin hit a deep six on Miz after McIntyre was thrown from the ring.
Corbin got frantic with the ref, thinking he had a three count and he posted himself unintentionally on the outside. McIntyre worked over Miz further and after Corbin spilled to the outside, Miz ate a Claymore Kick. Corbin then dumped McIntyre and stole the pin fall! That was shocking, and probably not the right call.
We’ll see what happens in the main event later. It’s Styles and Corbin.
Sami Zayn comes out and absolutely kills it on the mic once again. Find the clip of this. If he keeps “heeling it up” like he’s doing, he’ll be competing for the Universal Title in no time. The crowd turns on him in a hurry and after he tells them to go to hell, he takes his leave as a debuting Cedric Alexander makes his way to the ring to compete against Cesaro.
Cesaro defeats Cedric Alexander via pin fall after a European Uppercut.
This had all the trappings of a great match and it was just that. Cesaro had made no bones about wanting to establish himself as a dominant singles star once again, and Alexander is looking to get his feet wet on the big stage.
Alexander really got things going against the veteran early, impressing the crowd with high impact offense and after a somersault plancha on the outside, he looked to have things at hand, but a European Uppercut caught and flattened him coming off the top rope and that was it.
Cesaro was pleased after the victory and Cedric looked dejected. Give me this one again!
The Usos absolutely killed it backstage with Charly Caruso, even referencing the DUI that got Jimmy Uso earlier in the year. The Revival confronted the two and perhaps we’ll be seeing a tag team affair between the two shortly.
A major statement is made in a match that wasn’t a match. The newly named “Vking Raiders”, Ivar and Erik, decimated the Lucha House Party. They ran through them like a hot knife through butter as the Raw tag team champions, Hawkins and Ryder, commented on such after the beating.
It seems like they are moving towards a tag team title match between the two, sooner, rather than later.
Becky two belts, “The Man”, the Raw and Smackdown Women’s champion, is headed to the ring next. She is slated for a singles match against the returning Alicia Fox. Glad to see the veteran back in action. We’ll see what happens next.
Becky Lynch not only referenced her number one contender, Lacey Evans, and she buries Charlotte in the process. She says that whatever Evans is doing backstage to “curry favor”, she’s here to compete and she calls out Fox.
Evans takes offense to this and comes out to “class” the joint up. She questions Lynch’s emotional state and says she wants to be the center of attention. The “lady” is always in complete control and not a showoff, she educated Lynch on this.
At the “Money In The Bank” PPV, she’ll show “The Man” a classy and confident lady will take the title with a woman’s right.
Lynch calls Evans a “plank” and says that Evans is beneath her and getting on her last nerve. She wants to slap the head off her shoulders. She isn’t content, and she will dismantle Evans at MITB, because she can. This was a good exchange. Here comes Foxxy, it’s time for competition. Evans is looking on.
Becky Lynch defeats Alicia Fox via submission with a Disarmher.
The veteran Fox gives a honest effort against the dual champion and she does just that heading into a commercial break.
After the return, Fox continues the assault, dumping Lynch in the ring before rolling her to the outside. Lynch fires back with a sharp right, tossing Foxxy back into the ring. Lynch continues the comeback and prevails with a Becksploder combo and a Disarmher submission.
Lynch barely gets the three count before Evans enters the ring and lays her out with a Woman’s right. That was really impressive timing. Lynch gets up and eats a second one for her troubles. The “Sassy Southern Belle” has put “The Man” on notice as Michael Cole tells us.
It’s great to see Fox back in action as well after battling through her demons. She’s a solid in-ring presence and a quality hand in the ring.
Baron Corbin is throwing invisible hands backstage as Charly Caruso questions his chances. He mocks the internet trolls and says why doesn’t he deserve to face Seth Rollins, the same way he didn’t “deserve” to face Kurt Angle. He says he isn’t past AJ Styles, he’s looking straight through him.
One and Only! Ricochet is headed to the ring, standing on his own, Aleister Black heading over to Smackdown, and he’s ready to compete in his first singles bout on Raw.
He’ll be taking on “Robert Roode”. The former “Bobby” is bringing us a full handlebar mustache and a new persona which is explained to us after the break.
What in the blue hell did we just watch? It’s official, the “Puppetmaster” is Bray Wyatt. We were treated to a Psycho Pee-Wee’s Playhouse with “Firefly Funhouse” and we got this new version of Bray Wyatt seemingly balancing his good and evil sides.
We’re really glad that you’re our friend, and this is a friendship that’ll never, ever, end!
I’m not sure how I feel about this yet, but damn, if this wasn’t one of the most unique and cutting edge things I’ve seen. Color me intrigued to say the least. Tonight has been a stellar broadcast of Raw.
Robert Roode defeats Ricochet via pin fall with a Glorious DDT.
We had multiple thoughts on this one, but all positive. Neither man really needed a loss here, but when Roode came out with his new mustache, channeling the spirit of the late, great Rick Rude, everyone was immediately behind him.
He cut a great pre-recorded promo and as he gets up there in years, give the great hand a chance to compete for a major title.
Ricochet will be a main eventer for years to come and after a very solid bout, Ricochet missed the 630 splash and Roode pinned him clean after a Glorious DDT. First Cesaro gets a win, and now Roode.
If this is the new look Raw, I’m interested. Ricochet is one of my favorites for Money In The Bank, so he should rebound strong.
AJ Styles defeats Baron Corbin via pin fall with the Phenomenal Forearm.
This was a pretty solid main event coupled with the great triple threat matches earlier.
It really looked as if they might go with Corbin after the former General Manager fought through a Calf Crusher and made a comeback.
Styles was prepared to hit the springboard and it screamed counter, but sure enough, the forearm struck and Styles is headed to Money in the Bank to compete for the Universal Title.
Rollins came down after the match and engaged Styles in a stare-down. He offered him a handshake, and after a brief period of hesitation, respect is shown and we end a great show on a high note.
